Dhaka Wasa chairman dies of Covid-19 complications

MA Rashid Sarkar, chairman of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) Board, died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital, where he was admitted after testing positive for Covid-19. He was 67.

Prof MA Rashid Sarkar. Photo: Collected

He passed away at 7:55am yesterday at Bangladesh Specialised Hospital in Shyamoli, according to a Wasa press release.

Rashid, also a former professor of mechanical engineering department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), was hospitalised nearly one and a half months ago after being diagnosed with Covid-19, said a Wasa official.

He had been put on ventilator support on July 16 but was later moved to a cabin after his condition improved on September 1, said the official. Although Prof Rashid's final test for the virus came back negative, his health began to deteriorate on September 3, he added.

The Wasa chairman was once again moved to the intensive care unit at the hospital and had been in a precarious state for the last few days. Doctors said some of his organs failed due to the effects of Covid-19, the official added.

MA Rashid was a teacher at Buet from 1985 to 2018. He was appointed chairman of the Wasa board on October 23, 2019.

He left behind his wife, son and daughter and a host of relatives and well-wishers.

Prof Rashid was also working as a professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering department of Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST).

His namaj-e-janaza will be held at the Central Jame Mosque of Buet after Asr prayers today.

In a condolence message, Dhaka Wasa expressed deep shock over the death of its chairman and prayed for the salvation of the departed soul while conveying sympathy to his bereaved family members.